Stories for August 2023

Friday, August 11th 2023 - 09:30 UTC
Chile: Boric enacts bill protecting whistleblowers in corruption cases

Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font Thursday signed into law a bill providing for the protection of whistleblowers in corruption cases within the government, it was reported in Santiago. The initiative was pushed after a journalistic investigation last June into then-Social Development Minister Giorgio Jackson.
Friday, August 11th 2023 - 09:28 UTC
Largest cruise vessel ever, five times the Titanic, will see its maiden voyage next January

As the cruise industry is again picking up with clients returning, a Finnish shipyard is putting the final touches on what will be the world’s largest cruise ship. According to Travel and Tour World, Royal Caribbean’s luxurious new vessel 'Icon of the Seas' is nearing completion in the Turku shipyard on Finland’s southwestern coast, its maiden voyage scheduled for January 2024.
Friday, August 11th 2023 - 09:12 UTC
Ecuador: Six Colombians accused of killing presidential candidate; State of emergency and elections ratified

Six people have been arrested in Ecuador late on Thursday in connection with the killing of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio following a political rally a day earlier.
Friday, August 11th 2023 - 09:00 UTC
Bolsonaro wishes Milei good luck for PASO elections

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Thursday released a video wishing Libertarian presidential candidate Javier Milei good luck for next Sunday's Simultaneous, Open, and Mandatory Primary (PASO) elections in Argentina.
Friday, August 11th 2023 - 08:38 UTC
Former FARC guerrilla fighter dies in Buenos Aires riots

An Argentine national with a criminal record as a member of the dissolved Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) died Thursday in Buenos Aires after being arrested by the City Police amid riots staged by leftwing groups around the iconic Obelisk, it was reported.
Thursday, August 10th 2023 - 11:45 UTC
Argentina: “Blue” dollar reaches AR$ 600

The “blue” (a euphemism for “black market”) dollar in Argentina Wednesday pierced the AR$ 600 barrier for the first time just days ahead of Sunday's Simultaneous, Open, and Mandatory Primary (PASO) elections while the official quotation neared AR$ 300, it was reported in Buenos Aires.
Thursday, August 10th 2023 - 11:37 UTC
Killing of 11-yr-old girl halts all political rallying in Argentina

All candidates, presidential or otherwise, have suspended their campaign closing rallies for Sunday's Simultaneous, Open, and Mandatory Primary (PASO) elections after Morena Domínguez, an 11-year-old girl, was killed Wednesday when motorbike robbers took her backpack at 7.20 am on her way to school in Lanús, a municipality in the province of Buenos Aires just south of the Argentine capital.
Thursday, August 10th 2023 - 11:25 UTC
Hitmen assassinate Presidential candidate in Ecuador

Presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio died after being attacked by hitmen on his way out of a campaign rally in downtown Quito ahead of the upcoming Aug. 20 elections, Interior Minister Juan Zapata confirmed in the Ecuadorian capital. Other people were wounded, it was reported.
Thursday, August 10th 2023 - 11:25 UTC
Uruguay Peso, most overvalued currency against US dollar says the Big Mac Index

The Uruguayan Peso is turning out to be one of the most overvalued currencies (out of 52 surveys) against the US dollar. In other words according to the Big Mac Index, the US dollar is cheap in Uruguay and well below what is considered the long term “equilibrium point”.
Thursday, August 10th 2023 - 11:23 UTC
Falklands by-election 21 September 2023: Proxy, postal and proxy postal votes

The Falkland Islands Registration Officer is reminding the public that the closing date to apply for inclusion on the Register of Electors and to vote by means of a proxy, postal or proxy postal vote is midday on Monday 21 August 2023. After this time no applications will be accepted.